diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 067cb0e..77c9f2e 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ meme.jpg
 toots.db
 toots.db-journal
 toots.db-wal
+.mypy_cache/
 __pycache__/
 __pypackages__/
 .vscode/
diff --git a/functions.py b/functions.py
index d9e38cb..c290358 100644
--- a/functions.py
+++ b/functions.py
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ def extract_toot(toot):
 	toot = html.unescape(toot)  # convert HTML escape codes to text
 	soup = BeautifulSoup(toot, "html.parser")
 	for lb in soup.select("br"):  # replace <br> with linebreak
-		lb.name = "\n"
+		lb.append('\n')
 
 	for p in soup.select("p"):  # ditto for <p>
-		p.name = "\n"
+		p.append('\n\n')
 
 	for ht in soup.select("a.hashtag"):  # convert hashtags from links to text
 		ht.unwrap()